LeClerc arrived in Nouvion after his twin brother Roger visited him in prison and they decided to swap places, because Roger claimed that the food there was better than that of Madame Edith, to his brother's initial disbelief.

Like his sibling, Ernest was an old flame of Madame Fanny - Edith's mother - and worked as a forger. He was originally played by Derek Royle in series 6 in 1989, but his sudden death the following year meant the character had to be hurriedly re-cast before filming began on the following series. The part was won by Robin Parkinson, who was actually much younger than the character but made up to appear older, and he continued in the role until the show ended in 1992.